Vonage Businesshttp://business.vonage.com
Business VoIP from Vonage Business is the most reliable no-contract cloud VoIP phone service for businessesFri, 31 Jul 2015 19:13:51 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=149Pssst … The Business VoIP Revolution is Here. Pass It On!http://business.vonage.com/pssst-the-business-voip-revolution-is-here-pass-it-on/
http://business.vonage.com/pssst-the-business-voip-revolution-is-here-pass-it-on/#commentsWed, 08 Jul 2015 18:54:52 +0000http://business.vonage.com/?p=18123It wasn’t too long ago that we regarded cloud-based business tools as something to keep an eye on – or something that only large enterprise organizations dabbled in. Those days are long gone as businesses of all sizes regularly employ cloud-based tools across their organization … CRM solutions like Salesforce.com, email through Office 365, and […]

]]>It wasn’t too long ago that we regarded cloud-based business tools as something to keep an eye on – or something that only large enterprise organizations dabbled in. Those days are long gone as businesses of all sizes regularly employ cloud-based tools across their organization … CRM solutions like Salesforce.com, email through Office 365, and the list goes on.

Also, consider the rapid adoption of cloud-hosted business VoIP phone systems – over traditional systems – across nearly every industry vertical. Why the revolutionary shift away from traditional phone systems? It’s a great story of businesses using hosted VoIP phone solutions to increase efficiency and do more. Quite often, these businesses are also saving money when they switch.

Get the Free eBook

You’re invited to take a closer look at how business VoIP systems work and how they differ from “traditional” phone systems that have been around for decades.

At the heart of the Business VoIP Revolution is the convergence of VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) technology and cloud hosting that enable next-generation calling features, integrated mobile access, and efficiencies that often keep costs lower than traditional solutions. This eBook highlights some critical comparisons between “hosted VoIP service” and “traditional phone service,” including:

Is Your Business On Board?

Especially if you’ve been considering a switch to a hosted VoIP system for your business, use this eBook to learn why it’s the right solution for so many savvy businesses. The maturity of business VoIP technology is certainly driving the revolution – and for business owners, it’s the resulting operational efficiencies and cost savings that prove the Business VoIP Revolution is real. Check out the “Inside the Business VoIP Revolution” eBook now.

]]>http://business.vonage.com/pssst-the-business-voip-revolution-is-here-pass-it-on/feed/0In Case of Emergency: How Will Your Business Stay Connected?http://business.vonage.com/in-case-of-emergency-how-will-your-business-stay-connected/
http://business.vonage.com/in-case-of-emergency-how-will-your-business-stay-connected/#commentsThu, 04 Jun 2015 15:33:17 +0000http://business.vonage.com/?p=17363This month marks the start of Hurricane Season, but you don’t have to be on the coast to know it’s wise to adopt an emergency preparedness plan. How would your business function if your employees couldn’t make it into the office? Could business continue if a storm, fire or other disaster devastated your office? How would […]

]]>This month marks the start of Hurricane Season, but you don’t have to be on the coast to know it’s wise to adopt an emergency preparedness plan. How would your business function if your employees couldn’t make it into the office? Could business continue if a storm, fire or other disaster devastated your office? How would you deliver your products or services? Could you still be available to your customers?

Look to your business phone system for business continuity: Smart business owners plan ahead for potential emergencies to minimize or avoid extended business downtime. A fundamental priority is keeping your business phone system up and running. Even during emergency conditions, the ability to contact customers, vendors and even your own employees can be a reassuring and positive step toward “business as usual.”

Hosted VoIP = Remote System Access

A huge advantage for businesses with hosted business VoIP systems is the ease of staying connected to the system, even when you’re away from the office. Since the system is cloud-based, you have several options for how you choose to communicate:

Integrated Mobile App. Cloud-based phone systems like Vonage’s offer Mobile Apps that make initiating or receiving calls appear like you’re in the office. Since our mobile solution is integrated with the full phone system, you have access to the system’s robust calling features, and caller ID registers your calls as originating from the office.

“Never Miss a Call” Features. If an emergency keeps your employees from the office, it’s simple to ensure they still receive calls. Vonage’s “Never Miss a Call” suite of features are easy to enable from either the online User Portal or the Admin Portal. Call Forwarding will send the call to whatever phone or device you like, Simultaneous Ring rings your office phone as well as any other phone number you choose, and Follow Me uses a sequence of phones or devices of your choosing to find you.

Work from Anywhere. If employees know of a possible disruption to business – such as an oncoming storm – they can always bring their office phone home, plug into their home Internet connection, and begin using the feature-rich phone system just like they were in the office. Vonage refers to this capability as Work from Anywhere, which is ideal for telecommuting when you prefer using your desk phone.

Lost Power or Internet? Call Continuity Comes Through

Don’t forget: Emergency situations can happen when you’re in the office, too. While downed phone lines are not an issue with a cloud-hosted phone system, any office can be inconvenienced by lost power or Internet. The Vonage system comes with an important patent-pending feature called Call Continuity which reroutes VoIP phone calls to a cellphone orother phone number if the office ever loses power or Internet. The feature is simple to configure, and customers are urged to set it up immediately. Similar to the features mentioned above, the result is keeping you connected to the phone system – regardless of the situation.

For so many companies, the business phone system is the lifeline to customers and to business continuity – and it’s a critical component to any emergency preparedness plan. Even in the worst of scenarios, if the office was completely devastated, a hosted business VoIP phone system remains in service for the business.

Businesses should indeed think ahead about emergency preparedness, and now is the perfect time. While you can never be fully prepared for every situation, it’s good to know that your phone system can represent continuity for your business when the going gets tough.

]]>http://business.vonage.com/in-case-of-emergency-how-will-your-business-stay-connected/feed/0Why ‘Your Phone in the Cloud’ is the Right Fit for Businesshttp://business.vonage.com/phone-cloud-right-fit-nearly-business/
http://business.vonage.com/phone-cloud-right-fit-nearly-business/#commentsWed, 11 Feb 2015 15:05:26 +0000http://www.vonagebusiness.com/?p=15613Not too long ago, the thought of a small company moving its business systems to the cloud was novel. Cloud technology was reserved for larger organizations with IT teams, according to many business owners. But what a difference just a few years makes. Now, businesses of all sizes are actively improving operations with cloud-based CRM tools, […]

]]>Not too long ago, the thought of a small company moving its business systems to the cloud was novel. Cloud technology was reserved for larger organizations with IT teams, according to many business owners. But what a difference just a few years makes.

Now, businesses of all sizes are actively improving operations with cloud-based CRM tools, email systems and certainly business phone systems. The mystery and apprehension toward cloud solutions has not only dissipated, these tools now represent competitive advantages for savvy businesses.

In a recent interview, Pie Shop owner and Vonage customer Mims Bledsoe discussed why she moved to a hosted business VoIP phone system: “Technology is generally moving toward the cloud, which basically means being able to access it from anywhere,” she said. “You don’t have to be sitting at your office desk. As long as you have an Internet connection, you can connect to the things you use most … so putting your phone system on the cloud makes just as much sense as having email.”

Ms. Bledsoe’s simple description underscores how comfortable small business owners have become with cloud systems. In fact, she relishes the conveniences the Vonage system provides her business. She logs on to the online Admin Portal to adjust call settings or to change voicemail settings remotely. She uses the Vonage Business Mobile app when she’s on the go. And she likes that when she makes calls from her home office, the system reflects her business identity on caller ID.

While these are go-to features for her business, they’re also great examples of a key benefit of cloud hosting – the ability to access the phone system from anywhere, on any device. For many businesses, this is the most liberating and enabling aspect of a cloud-hosted system like Vonage’s.

Businesses are also liberated by the lower cost. The Vonage system, for example, saves businesses at least 30 percent over traditional providers,* which also has a lot to do with cloud hosting. You see, the system’s PBX – the nerve center where call routing is accomplished and call features are enabled – is hosted in the reliable Vonage Cloud instead of in the business’s server closet. Therefore, there is no expensive equipment to maintain, and no need for annual service contracts or technician visits. The system is managed virtually, allowing much more control for the business.

Learn why businesses of all sizes benefit by moving their business phone to the cloud. Speak to a Vonage representative about the easy switch to the Vonage Cloud, 1-877-862-2562.

Success Story Video: See how a thriving bakery makes the most of the Vonage business phone system, even when they’re away from the shop.

]]>http://business.vonage.com/phone-cloud-right-fit-nearly-business/feed/0Winter Weather? You Should Never Miss a Callhttp://business.vonage.com/winter-weather-keeping-office-never-miss-call/
http://business.vonage.com/winter-weather-keeping-office-never-miss-call/#commentsTue, 27 Jan 2015 16:41:05 +0000http://www.vonagebusiness.com/?p=15498In the face of serious winter storms, business owners are first concerned for the safety and well-being of their commuting employees. Many are also thinking of possible lost work days if employees are unable to make it into the office – and resulting lost revenue when inbound calls go unanswered. For countless companies, the business […]

]]>In the face of serious winter storms, business owners are first concerned for the safety and well-being of their commuting employees. Many are also thinking of possible lost work days if employees are unable to make it into the office – and resulting lost revenue when inbound calls go unanswered.

For countless companies, the business phone system is the lifeline to customers. Particularly with most traditional phone systems, if you can’t get into the office, you simply can’t receive incoming calls. At that moment, the prospects of lost productivity and lost sales are very real; it’s a situation many businesses simply cannot control.

Why You Should “Never Miss a Call”

It’s often during the toughest conditions that business owners realize the advantage of hosted VoIP phone systems. When the system is hosted in the cloud and connected through the Internet, as the Vonage system is, you can access your full phone system wherever you are – and never miss a call!

What you can do right now. If you can’t make it to the office, the next step is easy with the Vonage system. Simply log into your password-protected online User Portal, choose one of the “Never Miss a Call” features, and direct your office calls to ring on your cell phone or other phone. You can even access the User Portal from your cell phone. Or, your company’s administrator can adjust settings for anyone in the company using the system’s Admin Portal. Either way, it’s fast and easy.

What is Never Miss a Call, and what are my options? Never Miss a Call is a suite of features that help you stay fully connected to the phone system when you’re away from the office. Feature options you can select from the online portal include:

Just choose the Never Miss a Call feature you prefer, and truly, you won’t miss a call. It’s just that simple.

What About Lost Power or Internet?

If you do make it into the office, only to discover lost power or Internet – you’re still fine if you’ve configured our Call Continuity service. This patent-pending service ensures calls are rerouted to your cell phone or other phone in the event of lost power or Internet.

IMPORTANT: While Call Continuity can be vital in the event of an emergency, it must be configured in advance on the Admin Portal to take effect. Customers are advised take the easy steps to configure and activate the service immediately.

Another Easy Way to Keep Connected

As many employees do the day before an expected extreme weather event – they take their IP desk phones home. Since the cloud-hosted Vonage system is “plug and play,” users can take their office phones home, plug into high-speed Internet, and have the same phone system access they have back at the office.

Whether it’s a debilitating winter storm or hurricane conditions that keep your team away from the office, the good news is that you don’t have to miss calls. It’s the beauty of having a reliable hosted VoIP phone system.

Success Story Video: See how one customer “found a better way” with the Vonage system following a debilitating winter storm.

]]>http://business.vonage.com/winter-weather-keeping-office-never-miss-call/feed/07 Reasons to Switch Business Phone Systems Before the New Yearhttp://business.vonage.com/7-reasons-switch-business-phone-systems-new-year/
http://business.vonage.com/7-reasons-switch-business-phone-systems-new-year/#commentsThu, 18 Dec 2014 21:45:04 +0000http://www.vonagebusiness.com/?p=15343It’s that unique time of year: first Black Friday, then Small Business Saturday, now the holiday season. While holiday shopping may be on the minds of most business owners now, many will overlook the ripe opportunity to do some business shopping. Yes, shopping for your own business – seeking smarter business tools that will put your […]

]]>It’s that unique time of year: first Black Friday, then Small Business Saturday, now the holiday season. While holiday shopping may be on the minds of most business owners now, many will overlook the ripe opportunity to do some business shopping. Yes, shopping for your own business – seeking smarter business tools that will put your company at an advantage come 2015.

In fact, if you’ve been thinking about a new business phone system, the weeks before the New Year can be the perfect time to make the switch to a hosted VoIP solution – especially since switching is easy and savings can be substantial. Here’s why now may be the best time to move your business phone system to the Vonage Cloud:

1) Start 2015 with a New Competitive Advantage

If your resolution is to improve business operations and serve customers better, why not start the year with a more capable phone system? With over 40 Vonage business features, you’ll quickly enjoy the efficiency, mobility and overall ease of use. Plus, it’s easy to switch to a business VoIP system since cloud-hosted systems like ours don’t require in-office installation. It’s simply plug and play.

2) Immediately Cut Business Expenses

It’s not often you can cut costs and actually get a better product. With the Vonage system, you can build fresh savings into your long-term budget. You’ll save at least 30% over traditional solutions*, month over month, and more when you consider the time-saving and task efficiencies that come with many of our VoIP business features.

3) Binding Contracts are So 2014!

What a relief it will be to start the New Year without a long-term contract that binds you to your business phone system. Vonage Business believes you’re going to love your new business phone system. Plus, without the expensive “closetful of wires” that traditional providers require, there’s never a need for service visits. So why ask customers to sign an annual contract? Vonage doesn’t.

4) Get Acquainted with Your New System

Late in December, some businesses get to wind down a bit and/or employees take holiday time off. So if you switch to a new phone system now, you’ll have some time to get to know the system before the New Year. Granted, systems like ours are easy to use – but we always recommend taking time to explore our calling features, sit in on a live Admin Portal Training session, and get familiar with our extensive Support Website. Right away, you’ll be able to set up users, configure your Virtual Receptionist and much more. And since you’ll have password-protected Admin Portal access to the system from anywhere, you can log in while you’re home for the holidays, on the weekend or whenever you have a spare moment.

5) Integrate Other Business Tools with the System

If you’re already using business tools like LinkedIn, Salesforce.com or QuickBooks – consider integrating them with your new phone system with our Desktop Plugins, which enable real-time information about your callers to show on your computer screen with every call. Many plugins are free, such as Caller Location, Google Contacts, LinkedIn, Call History and Google Search. The holidays are a great time to explore each one and quickly activate your favorites.

6) Think Ahead to a Better Teleworking Program

By putting a Vonage business phone system in place now, you’ll have the advanced features that make teleworking a better choice for your business. So start thinking about 2015 enhancements to your work-from-home program now! With a plug-and-play system like ours, employees simply plug their office phone into their home Internet and connect seamlessly into the office phone system, with all the same features they enjoy back at the home office. Teleworkers can also use our Mobile Apps and mobile-friendly features such as Simultaneous Ring and Voicemail to Email.

7) Gear Up Your Sales Team

Get your on-the-go employees geared up for a more productive new year. That means Mobile Apps that give your teams access to the full office phone system wherever they are. And, all their calls will register on Caller ID as a call from the company, not their personal cell phones. Plus, there’s no need for your on-the-go pros to use their personal phone minutes when they’re doing business. So think ahead to more mobility and more productivity in 2015!

Why Wait? Shop Now!

Maybe you’re ready to make the move to a more productive, less expensive hosted VoIP phone system. If so, there’s no time like now to get a new system in place and rock in the new year. If you’re still shopping, we invite you to use our Business Phone Solution Buyers Guide to help you navigate the marketplace and find a system that’s right for you. Discover why so many businesses are enjoying the business efficiencies of hosted VoIP solutions. What are you waiting for?

]]>http://business.vonage.com/7-reasons-switch-business-phone-systems-new-year/feed/0Around the Table on Thursday, Who’s Thinking About Small Businesses?http://business.vonage.com/around-table-thursday-whos-thinking-small-businesses/
http://business.vonage.com/around-table-thursday-whos-thinking-small-businesses/#commentsWed, 26 Nov 2014 16:56:56 +0000http://www.vonagebusiness.com/?p=14788Among the millions of Thanksgiving gatherings around the country, there are amazing stories at every table. Relatives traveling from faraway places. Friends joining friends and family. Meaningful reunions within every town and every neighborhood. It’s Thanksgiving in America, a galvanizing tradition that instills in us a sense of community and a feeling of togetherness. And […]

]]>Among the millions of Thanksgiving gatherings around the country, there are amazing stories at every table. Relatives traveling from faraway places. Friends joining friends and family. Meaningful reunions within every town and every neighborhood.

It’s Thanksgiving in America, a galvanizing tradition that instills in us a sense of community and a feeling of togetherness. And somewhere between the Macy’s parade and the late-night snack of pumpkin pie, we sit down together for the Thanksgiving meal. In that familiar and special setting, we have the rare opportunity to reflect on the people and the things for which we’re thankful. It’s often a humbling moment that can render a smile or even a tear, and one that we’ll likely remember on the return trip home or even beyond.

I like that about Thanksgiving, the way it builds a bond with the people around you. It’s a tradition that reminds me of what America’s small businesses do for us every week of the year.

I work here at Vonage Business, so I have the opportunity to meet and serve many of the entrepreneurs and community leaders who run small businesses around the country. (In fact, not too many years ago, we were a small and aspiring startup business phone service provider.) These men and women – and the small businesses they work so hard to build – represent the foundations of all our communities. They hire our family members and they provide the services, products and amenities that we rely on.

At the same time, every small business owner is assuming a risk as they follow their passion. It’s most often tireless work that far exceeds “working hours” and weekdays. Their businesses support their own families and the families of their employees. And collectively, they drive our broader American economy. It’s pretty heady stuff, when you think of what these business owners and innovators have at stake.

The beautiful part, for all of us, is that their businesses are located within each of our cities and towns. They’re here for each of us, and they’re the fabric of what we call our community, our home town. I’m grateful for that and I’m in awe of that. And I support them through the sleepless nights they worry about inventory, staffing, payroll and their bottom line.

On Thursday, when you look around the Thanksgiving table, there’s a good chance someone there is directly involved in an American small business. A business owner, an employee, a supplier. Like you, they’ve assembled to celebrate the things they’re most thankful for, and to share a sense of community with their family and friends gathered together.

But true to their commitments as small business professionals – many, many of them will be traveling home on Thanksgiving night or going to bed early. The coming day is Black Friday and the next is Small Business Saturday. And within each of their communities, their customers and neighbors will be there early to shop and to visit their local businesses.

I’m thankful for the small businesses that grace our communities, and on behalf of my own company, I can’t think of a better occasion to express my respect and appreciation.

About Dave Morris

Dave is a content strategist and writer at Vonage Business Solutions, working with teams across the company to build communication programs that enable our customers and assist our prospects. He enjoys living in Atlanta and is an avid gardener, restaurant enthusiast and live music fan.

]]>http://business.vonage.com/around-table-thursday-whos-thinking-small-businesses/feed/0See What Your Business Can Do: ‘Business Features in Action’ Videohttp://business.vonage.com/business-features-in-action-video/
http://business.vonage.com/business-features-in-action-video/#commentsWed, 17 Sep 2014 21:14:13 +0000http://www.vonagebusiness.com/?p=13879Any business owner considering a new business phone system should look at reliability, pricing and customer support services. And though it may seem obvious, taking a critical look at the actual features of a phone system is crucial to the purchase decision. Especially in the age of cloud business solutions, hosted VoIP phone solutions have […]

]]>Any business owner considering a new business phone system should look at reliability, pricing and customer support services. And though it may seem obvious, taking a critical look at the actual features of a phone system is crucial to the purchase decision. Especially in the age of cloud business solutions, hosted VoIP phone solutions have opened up many new efficiencies and capabilities for businesses of all sizes. They’re worth a closer look.

That’s why we created the new “Business Features in Action” video – to show business professionals how an advanced phone system can elevate daily operations and actually increase productivity.

This video provides a day-in-the-life look at a business owner named Vara and her office staff engaged in a busy work day and using the Vonage business phone service. Throughout the video, when an employee utilizes a phone feature, that feature is illustrated on screen to show how it works. It’s a simple and practical way to see how select phone features work, particularly for those who have never experienced cloud-enabled phone features that aren’t available from traditional copper-wire providers.

Top Business Phone Features on Display

While the Vonage system comes with over 40 built-in features and a suite of add-on features, this video showcases a select group of both traditional features and cloud-enabled features such as:

Virtual Receptionist: Seamlessly and professionally connects callers to the right employees

Desktop Integration: Instantly provides caller information from leading business applications like LinkedIn, Intuit QuickBooks and Salesforce.com on the employee’s computer desktop

Cloud-based Conferencing: Conference hosting of three or more participants

Call Reporting: An easy way to keep tabs on company call activity in real time and a great source of business data

Plug & Play Capability: Allows easy initial setup and adding extensions, as well as working from anywhere

Vonage Business Mobile App. Lets you use your mobile phone just like your desk phone, wherever you go

Why Features Matter

All business phone systems are different, and even similar features on competing systems can vary. A key for businesses shopping for a new system is choosing one with reliable features that will help them better serve customers and increase productivity. Cloud-hosted systems like our business VoIP solution provide exclusive features – such as Mobile Apps and call recording features like Call Monitoring – that cannot be found on traditional copper-wire systems. Business VoIP systems are also typically much less expensive than traditional solutions. For today’s competitive businesses, the right combination of business features, better pricing, reliability and customer support represents real value – both financially and in terms of productivity.

]]>http://business.vonage.com/business-features-in-action-video/feed/0Vonage Business Employees Take the Ice Bucket Challengehttp://business.vonage.com/vonage-business-solutions-employees-take-the-ice-bucket-challenge/
http://business.vonage.com/vonage-business-solutions-employees-take-the-ice-bucket-challenge/#commentsMon, 08 Sep 2014 18:13:33 +0000http://www.vonagebusiness.com/?p=13442The global fundraising phenomenon for the ALS Association landed at Vonage Business , courtesy of a challenge by Vonage CEO Marc Lefar. The Ice Bucket Challenge has become a viral sensation, and has raised more than $90 million to combat the deadly disease. The Atlanta-based office joined colleagues in Brazil, Israel, United Kingdom and the […]

The global fundraising phenomenon for the ALS Association landed at Vonage Business , courtesy of a challenge by Vonage CEO Marc Lefar. The Ice Bucket Challenge has become a viral sensation, and has raised more than $90 million to combat the deadly disease. The Atlanta-based office joined colleagues in Brazil, Israel, United Kingdom and the head office in New Jersey to get drenched for a worthy cause.

As part of the challenge, Vonage pledged to donate $10,000 to the ALS Association on top of the funds raised by the employees. The ALS Association will be using the funds raised by the Ice Bucket Challenge for its continued research for new treatments and a cure, as well as to help those struggling with the disease.

The ALS Association was founded in 1869, though it wasn’t until the 1930s when famed baseball player Lou Gehrig was diagnosed that the disease garnered international attention. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is a neurodegenerative disease that attacks the nerve cells in the brain and spinal column of those affected, degenerating and eventually destroying the motor neurons used for muscle movement. During the later stages of the disease, patients may become totally paralyzed or even die. It is estimated that approximately 30,000 Americans have the disease.

To learn more about the ALS Association’s Ice Bucket Challenge or donate to the cause, visit their website at www.alsa.com.

About Kari Lloyd

Kari Lloyd is a Content Specialist and Writer with Vonage Business Solutions. Though she is a Chicago native, she has lived in Atlanta for 2 years and London, UK before that. As a former rock journalist, she's a huge music fan and an avid foodie.

]]>http://business.vonage.com/vonage-business-solutions-employees-take-the-ice-bucket-challenge/feed/0Why ‘Work from Anywhere’ is Cool and What it Means for Your Businesshttp://business.vonage.com/why-work-from-anywhere-is-cool-what-it-means-for-business/
http://business.vonage.com/why-work-from-anywhere-is-cool-what-it-means-for-business/#commentsTue, 12 Aug 2014 17:02:05 +0000http://www.vonagebusiness.com/?p=13270We get a lot of comments and questions about our Work from Anywhere feature, which allows employees to unplug their desk phone and then reconnect to any high-speed Internet outlet outside of the office – at home, at a branch office, in a hotel room on the road. In fact, we were recently contacted by […]

]]>We get a lot of comments and questions about our Work from Anywhere feature, which allows employees to unplug their desk phone and then reconnect to any high-speed Internet outlet outside of the office – at home, at a branch office, in a hotel room on the road.

In fact, we were recently contacted by a business reporter who had just read an article about employees taking their desk phones home the day of an approaching winter storm. He was fascinated by this and wondered what we charged for this feature. After a brief conversation, he realized that this work-from-anywhere capability represents a basic technological difference between our cloud-hosted VoIP phone solution and that of traditional copper-wire providers. (And he quickly understood why it’s a built-in feature, requiring no add-on charge.)

The concept of “working from anywhere” – and retaining the same business phone functionality you have back at the office – isn’t always familiar to those who still use a wireline phone service. But for companies using a cloud-hosted VoIP service, such as the Vonage solution, it’s a significant business advantage.

Technology that Boosts Productivity

Since our VoIP phone service is delivered over the Internet, and IP phone connections are registered by an Internet Provider (vs. a physical phone jack in the wall), the IP phone will register correctly regardless of which Internet connection it’s plugged into. And since our service is hosted in the cloud, instead of on-site at each customer location, employees have the flexibility to take their phone home, forward calls to their cell phone, or even set up their extension to simultaneously ring multiple phones.

Take Your Desk Phone with You?

Many employees simply find it convenient to take their desk phone home, particularly if they’ll be teleworking for an extended period (for example, if inclement weather is forecast that could shut down the office for a day or more). Some employees may spend weeks at their company’s branch offices and prefer having their own desk phone with them. Carrying your desk phone with you may not appeal to everyone, but it’s a fantastic option, courtesy of modern VoIP technology. Also remember: With a quality business VoIP solution, employees always have the option of using mobile apps when they’re away from the office.

Mobile Apps Deliver Full Office Functionality

It’s hard to think of “working from anywhere” without quality mobile apps that enable workers to use their mobile phones the same way they use their office phones. And that’s what customers get with Vonage Business Mobile apps for iOS® and Android® – mobile access to our full suite of business phone features, including specific mobility features. And whether it’s a salesperson on the go or a teleworker in her home office, no one they speak to will know they’re working remotely.

The Cool Thing About Work from Anywhere

Many of our business customers consider the Work from Anywhere feature one of the most interesting aspects of our business phone solution. It offers so much flexibility and potential to keep employees connected with customers and productive when they’re not in the office. Even when conditions don’t allow employees to make it to the office, there’s still no reason to expect a drop off in productivity or a related hit to revenue. That assures business continuity for both your company and the customers it serves, and that’s very cool.

About Aaron Charlesworth

Aaron oversees all marketing and product management activities for the company and is an accomplished executive with deep technology marketing experience. He has a proven track record in lead generation, planning and product management, qualitative and quantitative research, search engine optimization, and creative collateral development.

]]>http://business.vonage.com/why-work-from-anywhere-is-cool-what-it-means-for-business/feed/7Hometown Caring: The Vonage Food Drivehttp://business.vonage.com/hometown-caring-atlanta-community-food-bank-gets-an-off-season-boost-from-vonage-food-drive/
http://business.vonage.com/hometown-caring-atlanta-community-food-bank-gets-an-off-season-boost-from-vonage-food-drive/#commentsFri, 01 Aug 2014 17:06:45 +0000http://www.vonagebusiness.com/?p=13232Employees Increase Hunger Awareness and Mobilize. Most everyone recalls annual holiday food drives in their communities and the good feeling that hungry families might be a little better off because of the tireless work of organizations like the Atlanta Community Food Bank (ACFB). But when the holiday lights come down, the fact is that donation […]

Most everyone recalls annual holiday food drives in their communities and the good feeling that hungry families might be a little better off because of the tireless work of organizations like the Atlanta Community Food Bank (ACFB).

But when the holiday lights come down, the fact is that donation efforts during the rest of the year suffer by comparison. And while the plight of hunger in our community remains year round, organizations like the ACFB simply don’t have the ample food donations during the “off season” months.

A Summer Drive Inspires

For the second straight year, Vonage Business chose mid-summer to initiate a company-wide food donation drive to benefit the Atlanta Community Food Bank.

“We’re sold on the amazing work of the ACFB, and like last year, we wanted to donate during a time when not many people do,” says Amy Tankersley, a product manager at Vonage Business and member of the Creative Events Team that organizes company outreach efforts like this.

To encourage employees, a competition between departments was devised with a points system earning teams extra points for donating “featured” food items each day – whole wheat pasta on Monday, brown rice on Tuesday, etc. Daily updates reported department totals and announced the next day’s bonus-point food item.

By the end of the effort, Vonage Business teams had collected 2,435 pounds of food, exceeding the total from last year’s initiative. Upon delivery, ACFB staff reiterated the important timing of the donation when summer donations are typically low.

Renewed Awareness, Sense of Community

When a company rallies around a cause, particularly one as urgent as hunger, the instinct for helping often becomes an inspiration or critical mission.

“We were looking for a way to give back to our own community, and we knew we had a group of employees who would put their hearts into the effort,” Tankersley continues. “But in the course of interacting and talking about what we’re doing, it really makes you take a pause and realize that hunger is a very real problem here in the Atlanta area where we live. And we’re lucky to have organizations like the Atlanta Community Food Bank.”

Confirming the dire need in the community, the ACFB reports distributing an entire warehouse of food roughly every three weeks. And keeping perspective in the summer: 60% of Georgia’s public school children are in the free/reduced fare school meal program, but only 15% of them have access to a summer feeding program – leaving many of them to go hungry throughout the summer.

“We’re proud we can do something to help, and I would encourage other metro-area businesses to support the ACFB,” says Tankersley. “Our teams enjoyed the competition we created and we were working together on something that really matters.”

The Atlanta Community Food Bank procures more than a million pounds of food and groceries each year and distributes it to more than 600 nonprofit partner agencies serving families and individuals in 29 metro Atlanta and north Georgia counties. To learn more and find out how to donate or participate, visit www.acfb.org.

About Dave Morris

Dave is a content strategist and writer at Vonage Business Solutions, working with teams across the company to build communication programs that enable our customers and assist our prospects. He enjoys living in Atlanta and is an avid gardener, restaurant enthusiast and live music fan.